Health Insurance Overview / Purchase Online

Please Note:

Wayne State University DOES NOT accept Travel Insurance.

Please DO NOT purchase Travel Insurance because you will have to spend additional funds to purchase WSU's health insurance for international students and scholars.

IMPORTANT HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION

Wayne State University REQUIRES ALL International Students to have insurance coverage in effect for sickness or accident during their program period.

It is a Federal regulation that all Exchange Visitors including their dependents have health insurance during their period of stay in the United States.

The Wayne State University International Health Insurance Program is located in the Office of International Students and Scholars, (OISS), (313) 577-0724, 42 W. Warren Welcome Center Suite 416 Detroit, MI 48202.

The Health Insurance Advocate located within the Office of International Students and Scholars is responsible for processing all International Health Insurance enrollment applications.

INSURANCE HOLDS

Because of the health insurance requirements, a health insurance hold (Health Insurance Hold) is placed on all international students each semester, which includes Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer. A residency code of N (Non-Resident) indicates that a student is a resident of a foreign country. This mechanism allows the OISS staff to track and monitor students who have not purchased health insurance and could potentially be “out of status.”

All International Students and Scholars must show proof of insurance before their “Health Insurance Hold” is released.

Proof of insurance is a copy of your health insurance card, and if you have insurance other than Wayne State Insurance, a copy of your insurance benefit summary.

STUDENTS/SCHOLARS WITH THE FOLLOWING NON-IMMIGRANT STATUS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE:

• J-1 and J-2 dependents (regardless of enrollment)
• F-1 and F-2 dependents

Any J-1 exchange visitor who willfully or negligently does not purchase health insurance for themselves and/or their family will be terminated from the WSU Exchange Visitor program.

INSURANCE WAIVERS

International students do have an option of purchasing other insurance. If you do have alternative insurance you must provide the Health Insurance Advocate in the Office of International Students and Scholars with a copy of an English version of your health insurance benefit summary coverage and a copy of your health insurance card. Your alternative insurance should provide at a minimum the following:

• Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per person per accident or illness;
• Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500;
• Expenses associated with medical evacuation in the amount of $10,000;
• Accidental death and dismemberment of at least 10,000
• Major Medical benefit of at least $250,000 at 90% coverage by the insurer and;
• A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

REPATRIATION & MEDICAL EVACUATION COVERAGE IS REQUIRED

Many international students’ alternative insurance plan DOES NOT include the repatriation and medical evacuation benefit. However, WSU requires the repatriation and medical evacuation benefit for all international students and scholars, except Commuting Canadian Students. Therefore, students with alternative insurance that does not cover the benefit, and those employed at WSU, must purchase the International Health Insurance Program’s repatriation and medical evacuation benefit for $66.00 per year or $36.00 per semester. We do not accept cash; only checks, bank's cashier's checks, traveler's checks (made payable to Aetna Insurance Company), Visa or Mastercard.

(Non-immigrant students who are legally employed with an immigration status of H, L, and TN do not have to purchase WSU’s Health Insurance or repatriation benefit.)

COMMUTING CANADIAN STUDENTS

Canadian students who live in Canada and commute to the U.S. have the option to either waive out of the WSU international health insurance program (IHIP), or purchase the WSU international health insurance as a supplement to their OHIP coverage. The Ontario Ministry of Health strongly recommends commuting Canadians purchase supplementary insurance due to limited benefits OHIP provides to foreign health care providers. Commuting Canadians opting to “waive” out of the WSU international health insurance program must bring their OHIP card to OISS and complete the Commuting Canadian Health Insurance Waiver form. Please make a copy of their OHIP card, or temporary OHIP coverage form. If the student cannot present proof of OHIP coverage, we cannot release the hold. Please be sure to view expiration (where applicable) on OHIP card.

COMMUTING CANADIAN J-1 STUDENTS /J-1 SCHOLARS

J-1 Scholars can no longer use their OHIP as proof of health insurance coverage. Because it does not provide adequate coverage while here in the U.S, and does not meet the Department Of State health insurance requirements. They can either purchase the OISS health insurance or provide proof of another American Insurance.

CANADIAN STUDENTS LIVING IN THE U.S.

Canadian students residing in the U.S. cannot use their OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) because it does not provide adequate coverage in the US. The students must purchase the WSU insurance or have comparable alternative insurance. Travel insurance does not meet the requirements of WSU.

URGENT REMINDER * URGENT REMINDER * URGENT REMINDER

Annual Premium: If you paid for the full-year premium, you will only need to come to the OISS the following year to renew your insurance.

Semester Premium: If you paid for a semester premium, a health insurance hold will be placed on your record per semester, you have to renew your insurance coverage for each semester.

PAYMENT OPTIONS * PAYMENT OPTIONS * PAYMENT OPTIONS

Unless otherwise noted, payments are made directly to Aetna, on-line, during the enrollment process. Visa, Mastercard and E-Check are accepted.